Which gun for deer? Got one?

[Reel Sharp]

Hey guys,
I'm looking to get into deer hunting and looking for a good gun. I really want some good jerky!!!!I am leaning towards a 30-6 for what I want to do. I have been researching and seeing a few options and wanted to know what you all prefer and why. And do any of you have an extra one with a scope to sell? I would be looking for a nice one so I would be set for a few years and not "wanting" a different one down the road. I am local in Wilmington NC.
Thanks,
Norm

[JPH]

If you can shoot well, any rifle in caliber .243 and up will get you that tasty venison jerky. If you can't shoot well, even a 416 Remington magnum will still wound the deer. Get a rifle and caliber that makes bullet placement easy for you...what ever that caliber is. I like 260 remingtons, 7mm-08s, and 270s. 30-06s have stout recoil and can be difficult to shoot well. The lighter the recoil, the easier it is to shoot.

[Reel Sharp]

If you can shoot well, any rifle in caliber .243 and up will get you that tasty venison jerky. If you can't shoot well, even a 416 Remington magnum will still wound the deer. Get a rifle and caliber that makes bullet placement easy for you...what ever that caliber is. I like 260 remingtons, 7mm-08s, and 270s. 30-06s have stout recoil and can be difficult to shoot well. The lighter the recoil, the easier it is to shoot.

Thanks, info well received!
I have a pretty good shot. Not Olympian, but I do see the target!!!

[N2theBlue]

i really like the 25 calibers..... .257 roberts, 25-06. The 7mm-08 is a really nice caliber too

[captnemo]

.300 win mag, you can hit 'em just about anywhere and they will die; shot this one in the ass and she only went about 50 yards; muzzle break; will ease the recoil, and if you ever decide to do a big game hunt like mule deer out west or elk or moose or bear you will already have the right gun;

Those are fine woodland calibers that have been recommended; but think into the future, if you ever think you'd do a long range hunt. Even in Texas some of those shots are 300 + yards, you'll want some heat down range for that.

[captnemo]

300 win mag at 10 yards

[N2theBlue]

.300 win mag, you can hit 'em just about anywhere and they will die; shot this one in the ass and she only went about 50 yards; muzzle break; will ease the recoil, and if you ever decide to do a big game hunt like mule deer out west or elk or moose or bear you will already have the right gun;

Those are fine woodland calibers that have been recommended; but think into the future, if you ever think you'd do a long range hunt. Even in Texas some of those shots are 300 + yards, you'll want some heat down range for that.

for somebody just starting out i would NOT recommend a .300 magnum. The recoil is way too much for a beginning shooter. If you need something long range go ahead and get a .257 Weatherby, will reach out and kill one from as far as you feel confortable. .300 mag is just way too much gun for 99.9% of deer hunting. Hell you don't even really need one for elk, get a .270, learn how to put it exactly where you want it and you can kill anything in North America short of a grizzly or moose. Shot placement is much more important than power, if you could hit that deer in the lungs you wouldn't have needed to destroy that ham

[saltwaterbucks]

Dang Nemo....... there was nothing left to eat ROFLMAO

[bigfish4me]

300 win mag at 10 yards

I dont think you led that deer enough

It all depends on where your hunting.....for hunting thick cover and shots under 150 yards I love my 30/30.....when I am sitting on a field and want to shoot 300 yards the 308 gets the call.....I highly reccomend an over under type scope mount so you can still use your iron sights on those 10 yard shots

[JPH]

Gentlemen: Our new hunter asked about getting started in this sport and the 25 caliber to 7mm-08 recommendations are all great choices. He should get the best scope he can afford and take it to a gunsmith and have the trigger adjusted to have a 3-4 pound very crisp break that will improve his shooting accuracy.

I like 300 magnums, I've had 3 built for me over the last 10 years, and larger calibers too, but their recoil sucks and muzzle brakes create their own problems and you really need alot of experience to deal with them on hunts. Today's 1000 yard shooters are all beginning to switch to 264 (6.5mm) due to the slightly better ballistic coefficients and less recoil vs. 300 magnums. Many guys have 6.5/.284 rifles in the less than 10 pound class. Today's bullets are so good and reliably penetrate and expand so well, that larger calibers are no longer necessary when hunting.

I just returned from Alberta late last week on a whitetail hunt with a 264 Winchester Magnum with a super high BC bullet with practice out to 500 yards in field positions with this rifle. It recoils about like a 270 with a 150 grain bullet, no brake needed.

One of the beauties of rifles is that you are not limited to just one. A 300 magnum might be a good 3rd rifle for him.

JPH